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Author: targabambinanl

ST. JOHN’S (November 23, 2017) – Targa Newfoundland has once again been invited to run stages in Marystown next year for both the 2nd annual Tom Hollett Memorial Targa Bambina and the 17th annual Targa Newfoundland events. They occur in July and September, respectively.

The events were given recommended approval from the Tourism and Special Events Committee, which is made up of members of the general public, town officials, and members of Council from Marystown. Formal approval to have closed-road stages for both events was given unanimously by the Marystown Council soon after the Committee had delivered their recommendation.

Marystown historically has been one of the more popular stages in the eyes of Targa competitors, management, and fans, was held off the Targa schedule for the past four years due to the previous Council’s unwillingness to give approval to use the town’s roads for the event.

The loss of the Marystown stages, public car show, and overnight stop for competitors was a disappointment to many residents of Marystown. The economic impact was also felt by local businesses that took in tens of thousands of dollars from the influx of competitors and Targa personnel to the area. The approval for both events will provide an even bigger economic impact to businesses in Marystown and throughout the Burin Peninsula.

Gary Myles, Deputy Mayor and Tourism and Special Events Committee Chair, voiced his support for both events and is glad to have it back in Marystown.

“The Town of Marystown is extremely pleased to, once again, be a host town for Targa Newfoundland in September, 2018, and with the addition of the Bambina event on the Canada Day weekend, we look forward to the excitement, entertainment, and opportunities it brings,” stated Myles. “The Town will be working closely with organizers to ensure a successful partnership moving forward, and we encourage residents and businesses alike to take full advantage of this world class event.”

Preliminary schedules for Bambina and Targa will be released in the near future. Marystown is scheduled to host stages, public car shows, and overnight stops for both events.

Owned and operated by Newfoundland International Motorsports Limited, Targa Newfoundland is one of three internationally recognized Targa motorsports events in the world. The 2018 competition will start in St. John’s on September 17th and concludes back in the capital on September 21st. The annual rally will cover more than 1,500 kilometres of the challenging, twisty roads of the eastern portion of Newfoundland, including over 400 kilometres of closed-road, flat-out Targa stages.

Long-time event photographer Ralph Saulnier is selling his 2017 Bambina Review Books and CD’s of images taken during the event, plus team specific image CD’s.

The book is $20 ($25 if needs to be mailed) and can be picked up during Targa week locally (we’ll have copies at the office too). Please email Darren at registrar@targanewfoundland.com or contact Ralph at ralph@ragincajun.ca to place an order for the Book. More information is available below.

If you’d like a CD of images or team-specific images, please contact Ralph directly. More information is on the image below.

Both make great gifts for competitors, folks who are from the Burin but living and working on the mainland, or general motorsports fans!

Thank you for participating in the first Tom Hollett Memorial Targa Bambina event ever held in the western, or northern Hemispheres. By all accounts it was a significant success and was enjoyed by those who organized, competed and spectated.

We had our share of challenges on the way into the event; from communications issues with communities, to a limited entry list which caused a very tight budget, to the many smaller changes and issues we had to deal with. We had more than our share of surprises and adventures in the event, but all were dealt with effectively and, as a result the event worked well. It was on schedule, on time, with all but two stages were completed. Those two were replaced on the final day.

The completion was fought to the final stage, as it should be, because that is the Targa way. The vehicles were well prepared and as we discovered, much faster than we anticipated. So we will have to make a number of adjustments to the courses, the rules and the speeds for coming events.

Our Targa organization worked tirelessly and well and after a little bit of a slow start (which seems to be part of the first day of each event) we operated wonderfully together. To those of you that switched positions or added responsibilities at the last moment, thank you. To those that restored the timing equipment over the winter and revised the Stage Ops Training processes thank you. The event management and Incident response groups ran well and operated in a very ‘can do’ manner, thereby setting an example for all.

In the Bambina we learned about ourselves, the event, the competition and about the communities in which we operate. While we had our share of issues we handled them, coming out all the better for the experience. From all this new and reinforced knowledge, we can make adjustments and changes to the way we design, organize and run the next Targa Bambina event.

Lastly, for those who have sent us feedback we thank you. Every bit of it is valuable, every bit much appreciated and will be considered. In the coming days we will endeavor to reply to each of you but rest assured, the one thing that came out of this first Targa Bambina, was that it developed a character much different than its parent. The event evolved into a short, well balanced and very tough little event capable of providing every bit of the challenge of its parent… but in a very different way. Targa Newfoundland as we all know and most of us have experienced is known as the Ironman of Motorsport, the Bambina is the ultimate Targa sprint and certainly provides…a taste of Targa.